The joy of a day hike is the lack of planning. You can plan ahead where you're going to go, what you will take, and maybe even construct an itinerary. Or you may decide at the last minute "it's nice out, let's go for a hike". I often store all my stuff in my backpacking pack and if I decide to go for a day hike, I just pull out what I need, throw it in a day pack, and take off. But regardless if it's an hour long hike and all-day hike, make sure some knows where you're going in case of emergency.
There's no set list of things to take with you. You can simply just take a water bottle or bladder and be happy with that. You may decide to toss in some snacks, maybe some navigation tools. I like to take my hammock so when it's time for a rest or if I find a beautiful spot, I can put it up quickly and just hang out (no pun intended :) ). I like to take a small meal and some snacks. If I bring my hammock, I'll often bring a book so I can read when hanging. And as always, if I'm by myself, I'll bring my iPod to listen to on the hike. If you're hiking with someone, leave it at home. The best part of hiking is the time you can spend with a person. If you decide to take your phone, turn it off! Nothing irritates me more than taking a hike and someone is texting. Smart phones are the biggest distraction and takes the point out of hiking.
If you are taking some gear along, get a decent backpack. You can use a "school" backpack, but I recommend something a little better with hip straps. The hip straps help to keep all the weight off your shoulders. Osprey, Kelty, Camelback, Black Diamond, and Teton make some great day packs. But if you want to minimize how much you buy for day hike, at least get some good shoes. You want some sturdy hiking shoes. If you don't, you won't enjoy the hike. Some good brands are GTX, Columbia, and Patagonia. I'll do a future post on choosing footwear. You want make sure to wear something comfortable and appropriate to the weather.
There are many parks out there for hiking. Since this is an Iowa blog by nature, I'll give you some good parks in Iowa to hike at: Yellow River State Forrest, Geode Stare Park, Shimmek State Forrest, Pikes Peak State Park, Wilson Lake, Rodeo Park Fort Madison, Nelson Park, Backbone State Park, Mines of Spain Recreation, Eagle Point Park, Maquoketa State Park, Pictured Rock, Carmack Park, Rathbun, Pleasant Creek, Stars Cave, and Volga River to name a few.
If you live close by a state or national park. You have an advantage! Start researching your area and see what's available. You may only have a park with a 5 mile trail. Great! If you hurry through, it won't take long to reach the end. However, shorter trails allow you to slow down and simply enjoy the hike without worrying about time. It's nice if you have multiple parks in your area so it doesn't become monotonous. You can chose which park to hike at based on the length and difficulty you're feeling.
Many parks have picnic areas. It's nice when you can hike for an hour, and stop at a picnic area to eat and enjoy the scenery. Say you're hiking at Geoge. You can park in the parking lot, hike the trails, then come back and eat at a picnic spot. This kind of day hiking is ideal for taking young kids and for family hikes. Many of these places also have fishing opportunities.
In addition to fishing, you can do many things while hiking; it doesn't have to just be walking the trail. Some people like to bring binoculars and bird watch. If you have kids, you can give them scavenger hunts to find certain leaves, bark, etc. Some people like to bring outdoor guides and identify different plants and trees. If it's the right season, mushroom hunting is popular. Some trails are also set up for biking. When I was younger, I used to practice survival skills such as making shelters, constructing snares, etc. This is a great idea for kids. Some of these places have caves that you can explore. I've always had a thing for confined space and exploring caves.
The biggest thing you should do in hikes is bring a camera. I take hundreds of pictures while I'm out on the trail. It's fun to look back on old pictures and have the memories of those trips. I recommend keeping a journal as well. I do this on all trips. Pictures are great for reliving memories, but puting a journal in your own words really captures the moment. I can go back 5 years in my journal and remember exactly what I was feeling and every detail of the event. It really is worth while.
Day hikes can be just as rewarding, if not more, as backpacking. So many opportunities to get out there and enjoy nature and the company of who you're hiking with. Please comment any suggestions you would also have for day hikes. If you would like to inquire about places in your area to hike at, please comment or send us a message via Facebook.
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